[Karyotype evolution in the genus Ellobius (Microtinae, Rodentia)].

Comparative analysis was undertaken of the pattern of G-dyed chromosome sets of three Ellobius species: E. tancrei, E. fuscocapillus, E. lutescens with respective diploid chromosome numbers 54, 36, 17. From the data obtained one can envisage probable evolutionary pathway of the Ellobius karyotype. Variability in chromosome numbers of this genus species was shown to be a result of both centromeric and centromeric-telomeric as well as telomeric translocations of originally acrocentric chromosomes. No combinations of acrocentric chromosomes of the E. tancrei Robertsonian fan were found in the karyotypes of E. fuscocapillus and E. lutescens, which points to independence of the evolutionary processes in the Ellobius genus taking different routes. The data are obtained to the effect that evolution of the genus Ellobius was accompanied by increase in the amount of C-heterochromatin.